Cape Town Mayor meets with displaced foreign nationals

Executive Mayor of Cape Town Helen Zille late on Thursday night met with displaced foreign refugees who fled attacks in the Du Noon informal settlement.

The mayor spoke to displaced foreign nationals, Disaster Risk Services and law enforcement agencies at the Killarney Disaster Management Centre where displaced foreign nationals had gathered.

According to the City of Cape Town, Ms Zille held an emergency meeting with the Director-General of Home Affairs Mavuso Msimang to move them to a more secure area and to process backlogs.

"The city is currently focusing on providing humanitarian aid and stabilising the situation here and in Masiphumelele.

"I urge residents to refrain from getting involved in this violence, and to cooperate with the police and South African National Defence Force [SANDF] members.

"This breakdown of order is bad for everyone, citizens and asylum seekers. The perpetrators of violence need to understand that."

Ms Zille urged anyone, who had evidence on the violence against foreign nations in other parts of the city, to alert the police or city emergency services as a matter of urgency.

"The public can play a valuable role in helping us to detect and contain this unrest in its early stages wherever it is sparked off."

The mayor was joined by the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Councillor Dumisani Ximbi.

Incidents of attacks on foreign nationals were reported in Du Noon and Masiphumelele. The city's Disaster Operations Centre was notified to immediately direct operations to ensure the safety of displaced people, and to provide shelter and food.

A total of 280 people were housed in the Summer Greens Town Hall. A small group of some 20 displaced people from Masiphumelele sought shelter at the Police Station in Ocean View. -BuaNews

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